Can we play? The mother brown bear makes a splash with the ball while her youngsters look on apprehensively from land

This female brown bear looked like she was having a ball with her young cubs as she enjoyed some fun with her offspring.

The mother bear was spotted splashing around with a yellow ball as her cubs looked on in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia.

While her two youngsters appeared a little apprehensive at taking a dip in the water, their mother was not shy in showing them how to have fun.Our turn: The cubs eventually got their go with the ball as they fought over their new toy from land

Eye on the ball: The female bear plays with her toy in the water, but it was not long before the ball was clawed to pieces

The female bear grasped the yellow ball yards away from her cubs who watched from the safe distance of a waterside log.

Somewhat inevitably, the mother bear's exuberance with her new toy meant the yellow ball did not last long before being ripped open by her razor-sharp claws.

There are thought to be as many as 14,000 brown bears in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, although this estimate is based on hunter's observations has been questioned.

Male Kamchatka bears can reach around 700kg in weight, and are among the biggest bears in the world.

Family fun: The bears appeared to enjoy their time in the sun in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula